Question about Comm

[spiderweb]

Sorry--I'm at the office an unable to get at a copy of the FARs until 10:00 PM. Could anyone give me the lowdown on what is required to get the comm rating? Thanks!

 

[poadeleted20]

(a) For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.
(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—
(i) 50 hours in airplanes; and
(ii) 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.
(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of this part that includes at least—
(i) 10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a single-engine airplane;
(ii) 10 hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered, or for an applicant seeking a single-engine seaplane rating, 10 hours of training in a seaplane that has flaps and a controllable pitch propeller;
(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
(iv) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(v) 3 hours in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.
(4) 10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine airplane on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of this part, which includes at least—
(i) One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point. However, if this requirement is being met in Hawaii, the longest segment need only have a straight-line distance of at least 150 nautical miles; and
(ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

 

[jesse]

Sort of on topic.

If I knock out my instrument via part 61 (as i also did my private) that'll put me at .. maybe 150-200 hours or so by then. Can I then do my commercial part 141 somehow?

Or do you have to do all the ratings part 141 to qualify for the reduced hours?

 

[spiderweb]

THANKS!!!

(a) For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.
(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—
(i) 50 hours in airplanes; and
(ii) 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.
(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of this part that includes at least—
(i) 10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a single-engine airplane;
(ii) 10 hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered, or for an applicant seeking a single-engine seaplane rating, 10 hours of training in a seaplane that has flaps and a controllable pitch propeller;
(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
(iv) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(v) 3 hours in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.
(4) 10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine airplane on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of this part, which includes at least—
(i) One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point. However, if this requirement is being met in Hawaii, the longest segment need only have a straight-line distance of at least 150 nautical miles; and
(ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

 

[SCCutler]

....I believe that I have nearly every one of those requirements (except the "preparation" one and the "solo" XC and night flights) knocked out already. I wonder why they insist upon "solo" as opposed to just "PIC"?

Maybe I should go ahead with training for the PTS and get my Comm...

 

[poadeleted20]

If I knock out my instrument via part 61 (as i also did my private) that'll put me at .. maybe 150-200 hours or so by then. Can I then do my commercial part 141 somehow?

Sure. But you'll have to do at least a 90-hour course to complete the Commercial under Part 141, because the minimum 141 course for Commercial 141 is 120 hours, and they aren't allowed to give credit for more than 25% of the course for previous Part 61 training. That would mean you wouldn't save any total hours by going 141 at that point.

Or do you have to do all the ratings part 141 to qualify for the reduced hours?

To get the Commercial in the bare minimum 190 total hours, yes, you have to do it all 141, and don't change schools in the middle of a course. The min hours per course are 35 for Private, 35 for Instrument, and 120 for Commercial. You have to do all the hours in the course except they can credit up to 25% of the course for previous 61 training and 50% of the course for 141 training. So if you do 3/4 of a Commercial 141 course and change schools, you still have at least 60 hours to go.

....I believe that I have nearly every one of those requirements (except the "preparation" one and the "solo" XC and night flights) knocked out already. I wonder why they insist upon "solo" as opposed to just "PIC"?

Because they want to make sure you can do it absolutely on your own, with no help whatsoever. If anyone else is in the plane, there's no way of telling how much help they might have provided. Even if they aren't a pilot, there are things they can do to help out -- as any good student of CRM knows.

 

[Henning]

....I believe that I have nearly every one of those requirements (except the "preparation" one and the "solo" XC and night flights) knocked out already. I wonder why they insist upon "solo" as opposed to just "PIC"?

Maybe I should go ahead with training for the PTS and get my Comm...

I know I got a healthy insurance break when I got my comm, but then I was low time and owned a multi.

 

[AdamZ]

Ron , I have sort of the opposite situation. I did my PP and IR at a 141 school. I have both a 141 and 61 available to get my comm. Would I be better off staying with the 141 for my comm, switching to the 61 or will it not matter?

 

[jesse]

Well. that sucks. oh well.

Looks like I'll be holding out for the 250 hours.

 

[spiderweb]

Does insurance go down with the comm? I thought it was just the opposite (at least for renters).

 

[poadeleted20]

Ron , I have sort of the opposite situation. I did my PP and IR at a 141 school. I have both a 141 and 61 available to get my comm. Would I be better off staying with the 141 for my comm, switching to the 61 or will it not matter?

Depends on how much total flight time you have now. If it's more than 130-150 hours, you can complete the Commercial in less total flight time under 61; at that point, the only reason to do it under 141 is because you're on VA or other government money which will only pay for training under 141.

 

[Dave Siciliano]

Does insurance go down with the comm? I thought it was just the opposite (at least for renters).

Ben:

It was no help for me when shopping for coverage; the IR was much more important; however, with my total time and all, it may be mute. May be more help when you're lower time.

HP; complex was important when flying one; then IR, then time in make and model. Never heard anything about a com. doing anything. Annual recurrent training; flight review and IPC was required for higher coverage amounts. The next thing that could benefit me is 500 multi hours; then, in the P-Baron.

Best,

Dave

 

[Dave Krall CFII]

Does insurance go down with the comm? I thought it was just the opposite (at least for renters).

Usually they want the IFR and no claims.
After the CFI, if you get the Master CFI (MCFI) one company offers 25% off insurance.

 

[wsuffa]

Does insurance go down with the comm? I thought it was just the opposite (at least for renters).

Dunno about renters.

I got a significant break with the Instrument rating, I got an additional 5% for getting the commercial. So, for me, anyway, it was a little, not a lot.

I have >1000 hours.